The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-21
A BANK CLERK RUINED.
HE COMMITS FORGERIES TO
KEEP HIS PLACE
In the Bear Pit-The Continental
National Bank stuck for
$4,000.

CHICAGO, Ill, June Ca. q. J
Rudolph, for four years bookkespe
Ia the Continental National Baak a
LaSslle and Adams streets, is locke,
up at the sfmory on charge OF forg
cry. He was arrested day before yes
hterday on a warrant sworn out b,
Cashier Bowen. His forgeries a1gre
gate $1,000. Rudolph is young mar
ried man and until recently boarded
with his Wite at No. 2l1 Cass street
His salary st the bank was $1,000
year. Mrs. Rudolph left the city
short time ago to visit her people, snC
il seems that in her abseuce-so til,
story goes-young Rudolph con
cluded t. so assiduously devote BIZ
energies 10 money making as iC
enable him to pleasantly surprise he
on he, return. Among Rudolph's &C
quaintauces was genteman nsmeC
freeman, well.to do tailor, Tho deal
in options on the Board OF Trade. He
is cred ted with having made somt
lucky speculations and his success 90
affected the mind OF young Rudolph
that be resolved to speculate a lite
on his own account. o. Monday lssl
q check was presented 1T tho Cont
nenta. NStioI al bank for $4,000. Ii
had been deposited with the Union
Nstiona. bank by Mr.. freeman and
bore the signature Of one OF the Con
tinental National banks best patrons
Since Mr.. Freeman did all his bank.
ing business WITH the Udion Nstcna
nothing was thought OF the matter, at
such transactions are of hourly occur.
renee among banks. The check was
certifisd as correct and credited up to
the the Union Natior oil. On WedntE c.
day at IL s.m. another check,
drawn by the same 6rm,for $4,000, was
brought to the Continental National
by messenger from the Union Ma,
tisnal for cslti6cation. Paying Teller
Shoemaker was struck by the peculiar
handwriting Of the cheek and laid II
aside for q moment for further exam
nation. 1t was not in the same writ
ing that firms checks were usually
drawn, although the signatures seemed
20 be all right. Mr.. Shoemaker con-
suited With Cashier b wen, aud it was
decldsd 10 investigate before certify.
ing 1t. A ne isenRpr was accordingly
sent to the Union National Bank with
the messenger from that bank, with
the request that the Continental be
permitted to refer the check to the
drawer. The request was granted and
the check was taken to the firm whose
signature was attached. They pro-
nounced it forgery. Cashier Bowan
then determined TO arrest somebody
within his own bank, and cent to
the Central Station for an
officer. Detective Denny Simmons
responded. At the time the check
was presented at the Continental
young Rudolph was out. 1t was found
on comparing the writing on the
check with his books that there were
certain similarities in the formation
of letters that would warrant the bank
at least in suspecting him. He re.
turned about the time the officer
reached the bank, and was taken into
the cashiers private Office, when the
check was handed him and he was
asked what he knew about it. 1t is
said bis actions were such as to further
confirm the suspicion of tbs bank
officials, and Mr.. Bowen at once swore
out warrant for Rudolph's arrest and
he was locked up. 1t was not until
after his arrest that the $1,000 check,
which the bank had already cashed,
was found to be forgery. II was re.
ferred to the members of the firm
whose name was signed to it and they
likewise pronounced 1t forgery. II
Rudolph is the guilty man-and the
bank officials are confident he is-he
is certainly to be accredited with q
new and decidedly novel method of
orgery. 1t is said he went to Mr..
Freeman on Monday morning, Just
after the Opening of the board OF trade
and represented to him that he had
made lucky speculation and at the
eame time showed him the $4,000
check.
"The firm," he is quoted as eaying,
lis one of our patrons, and cannot
deposit the check. II the bank were
to suspect that / am speculative in
wheat would be discharged. You
take the check and deposit It to your
credit at your bank and give me your
personal check ss / want tAe money!"
This, it seems, Mr.. Freeman agreed
to. The story seemed plausible enough,
and, at Mr.. Rudolph's request-so goes
the story-he was given Mr.. Freeman's
personal check for the full amount, as
he desired to use the money at
once in further speculstions. That
money, it is believed, was sunk in
an hour in an unlucky deal, but the
forgery was 80 successful that II was
on Wednesday for the
lsrger amount, and, as stated, was
detected on presentation of the
check at the Continental. The $4,000
is clear loss to the Continental.
A reporter for the Daily NeUs called
at the Continental Bank and saw As
sisisnt- Cashier Hoyt. He was urgently
pressed to give an account of the affair,
but persistently refused, as he said he
thought the ends of justice would be
defeated by publication of the mat
ter now. He finally said: There is a
matter Of $1,000 irregularities, but
cannot give anything for publication
until can give the facts correctly"
Mr.. Hoyt admitted that Mr.. Free
man, engaged in q tailoring business,
was an innocent party to the trans
action, but more th1n that he would
not say. Samuel A. Freeman lives at
234 Cass street, When a reporter
called there last night he was not at
home. His wife, however, said she
had heard Mr.. freeman say something
about the arrest OF man named Ru.
dolph, but since she was not &C
qusinted with such person che paid
no attention to the matter. Assistant
Cashier Hoyt spoke well OF Mr.. Ru-
dolph. He ssid he had always con-
Quoted himself in q manner that won
the banks cnnfdanca. and that the